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LETTER FROM THE DEAN:
Dear Members,
This autumn has been exceptionally busy for us in the Greater Hartford AGO!

Michelle Horsley, Dean
On Saturday, October 7th we hosted a Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza event for kids interested in the pipe organ. With around 35 in attendance, we alternated groups (older and younger) from OrgelKids kit building to exploring the console. After the event, we received multiple application for organ study funded by our chapter's Jolidon scholarships. Most stayed for pizza and fellowship afterward. We are so grateful for the ushers and facilitators of this event including board members Bob Gilbert, Eustace Straker, Chris Yi, Bill Hively, and Susan Carroll as well as Marnie Clark, Lori Bourret and Cheryl Wadsworth of the Hospitality Committee. This was a wonderful opportunity for educational outreach to the organ enthusiasts of the next generation!
At the end of the month, we hosted the Hartford AGO's 32nd annual PipeScreams event. This elaborate Halloween-themed evening of snacks, candy, ghost stories, theatrics, and performances is always a neighborhood favorite. Eight organists - teenagers to retirees - shared costumed performances by Bach, Boellman, Shostakovich, and Ginastera, among others. There were also original arrangements and improvisations by Jay Lindsay and Caleb Smith. We had four volunteer stagehands who operated giant inflatable ghosts, flickered spooky lights, animated spiders and bats, etc. throughout the concert. The audience, filled with many families, was encouraged to boo and hiss after each piece (as is tradition with PipeScreams). The concert was preceded by ghost stories from Chion Wolf and El Polon around a bonfire outside while Rosemary Gregory and Marnie Clark served up festive snacks/cider. Susan Carroll then invited kids to explore the Orgelkids kit inside while waiting for the concert to begin. Boardmembers Sean McCarthy, Christopher Houlihan, Eustace Straker, and Bill Hively helped usher. This year we had a record 4 stagehands (Anne Desmarais, Adam Desmarais, Sophie Reilly, and Jennifer Reilly) who helped make the magic. For those interested, the concert in its entirety is now viewable on our Hartford AGO Youtube channel.
Last night we were absolutely thrilled to support Olivier Latry's concert at Trinity College. What an incredible pleasure to welcome one of the most important organists of our generation back to Hartford for this special performance. Olivier Latry is the titular organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris) and Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory. His concert last night included works by Durufle, Bach, and Guillou, as well as an elaborate improvisation on mystery themes from an envelope.
The remainder of November and December are planning months for our executive board, as we gear up for a big day of workshops and events in collaboration with the Connecticut chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. This event, which will be the first of its kind for our chapter, is an opportunity for both of our communities to meet, brainstorm, sing, and learn. Featuring reading sessions of choral music with organ accompaniment, conversations about instruments in the Hartford community, and discussions about challenges that conductors and organists alike are facing, we invite you to this time of idea-sharing. More information and registration will be available soon.
As always, we provide job listing, grants, substitute lists, and organ scholarships year-round. Contact us anytime at HartfordAGO@gmail.com
Thank you for visiting the
Greater Hartford
Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO)
The American Guild of Organists was founded in 1896 as an educational and service organization and is headquartered in New York City. Under the leadership of the National Council, a network of volunteer officials at the regional, district and local levels directs the activities of the guild. The guild is divided into seven geographical regions; the Greater Hartford Chapter belongs to Region I (New England) and is one of the largest and most active chapters in the region.
Saturday, September 9
Hartford AGO Social Hour
11:30am–1:00pm
Parkville Market
1400 Park St. Hartford, CT
September 22-23
Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival
Trinity College
300 Summit St. Hartford, CT
Saturday, October 7
Pedals, Pipes, & Pizza
10:30-1:00pm
Trinity Episcopal Church
120 Sigourney St. Hartford, CT
RSVP by clicking HERE
Friday, October 27
Pipescreams
6:15pm-8:30pm
Trinity Episcopal Church
120 Sigourney St. Hartford, CT
Tuesday, November 7
Olivier Latry
7:30pm
Trinity College
300 Summit St. Hartford, CT
Saturday, February 24
The Art of Gathering
in collaboration with the CT-ACDA
Trinity College
300 Summit St. Hartford, CT
Saturday, April 13
Silent Movie with Peter Krasinski
Central Baptist Church
457 Main St. Hartford, CT
June–Date TBD
Annual Meeting, Dinner and Concert
St. John's Church, West Hartford
679 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, You Tube Channel
OUR CHAPTER:
Dean: Michelle Horsley
Sub Dean: Christopher Houlihan
Secretary: Robert Gilbert
Treasurer: Jonathan Reuning-Scherer
Student Rep: Chris Yi
Susan Carroll
William Hively
Sean McCarthy
Eustace Straker
Job Listing Service/Substitutes
and other Inquiries